Housing



April 1938. F. J. MCCLUSKEY ET AL 2,114,745

HOUSING Filed Feb. 8. 1937 AWE/770B: Fan/1:1: I M: CL UJKEY ANO 6501255416 6040mm BY m Arroencv Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES HOUSING Francis J. McCluskey and George W. Goidner, St. Louis, Mo., assignors to James R. Kearney Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application February a, 1937, Serial No. 124,548

10 Claim.

This invention relates generally to housings and more specifically to housings formed preferably of electrical insulating material and intended for use as enclosures for electrical equipment such, for instance, as fuse switches, the predominant object of the invention being to provide a housing of this type which is so constructed and arranged that the electrical terminals, which serve to electrically connect the mecha-' nism within the housing to power lines, are

cated outside of the interior of the housing wherein said electrical mechanism is arranged.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the improved housing.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the housing illustrated in Fig. 1 with the closure element removed.

Fig. 3 is a. fragmentary section taken on line 3-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line 4-4 of Fi 1.

In the drawing, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the invention A designates the improved housing generally. The improved housing comprises a body portion I which is open at its front and bottom as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said body portion of the housing being provided at its open front with a closure element 2 which is hinged to said body portion in a manner to be hereinafter set forth. The body portion of the housing is formed of porcelain or other suitable electrical insulating material, and the rear wall of said body portion is of varying thickness as shown in Fig. 1. Formed transversely through the rear wall of the housing adjacent to the top thereof is an opening 3, and formed transversely through said rear wall adjacent to the bottom of the housing is a similar opening 4. The openings 3 and 4 are open at the opposed, outer side faces of the housing, and smaller openings 5 and 6 extend respectively from the openings 3 and 4 to the inner face of the rear wall of the housing. 'The rear wall of the housing I at the approximate vertical-center of the housing is of considerably greater thickness than the remainder of said rear wall, and formed transversely through this thicker portion of the rear wall is an opening I which is open at the opposed outer side faces of the housing and is of greater diameter than the openings 3 and 4. In the case of the opening 1 an opening 8, of less diameter than said opening I, extends from said opening 'I rearwardly to the rear face of the rear wall of the body portion of the housing.

'Arranged in contact with the rear face of the rear wall of the housing I is a hanger 9 which may serve as a means for attaching the housing to an element by which it is supported when in use. The hanger 9 is arranged in contact with an elongated extension I (Fig. 4) formed on the rear wall of the housing which is substantially the same width as the hanger, and said hanger is secured to the housing by a bolt I0 which passes through the opening 8 and through an opening formed in the hanger which is alined with said opening 8. Arranged in embracing relation with the hanger portion that contacts with the elongated extension I of the rear wall, and with said elongated extension, is an elongated element II of more or less U-shaped cross-section. This element is provided with an opening through which the bolt I0 passes, and a washer Iilb is interposed between said element and the head portion I 00. of the bolt. The inner end portion of the bolt I0 extends into the opening I and a substantially V-shaped element I2 is located within this opening in contact with the wall thereof as shown in Fig. 1. The V-shaped element I2 is provided with an opening formed therethrough through which the bolt Ill extends, and a nut I2 which is mounted on the inner end portion of the bolt, is screwed into close contact with the V-shaped element so as to securely fix the hanger to the housing. The element II prevents relative pivotal movement between the housing and the hanger about the bolt I0, inasmuch as the inwardly extended legs of said element embrace both the extension I of the housing and the portion of the hanger which parallels and contacts with said extension as shown in Fig. 4.

Located within the openings 3 and 4 are terminals I3 and I4, to which are attached sections C and C of the electrical conductor with which the electrical device enclosed within the housing is associated. Each of the terminals I3 and I4 comprises an elongated sleeve I5 (Figs. 1 and 3) which preferably is of slightly greater thickness at its base portion than elsewhere, and at the approximate longitudinal center of said sleeve same is cut away at its base and opposed sides, as indicated at I6 in Figs. 1 and 3, the outer portion of the sleeve being uncut and being extended continuously from end to end of the sleeve. Arranged within the cutaway portion IS of each sleeve is a substantially U-shaped element I! having a relatively thick base portion and provided with opposed, parallel leg portions extended from said base portion, the continuously extended outer portion of the sleeve I5 being extended between the outer portions of the opposed leg portions of the element H, as shown in Fig. 3.

Associated with the' terminal I3 and located within the housing A is an upper contact I8. and associated with the terminal I4 and likewise located within said housing A is a lower contact I9. The contacts I8 and I9 illustrated in the drawing, which will now be described in detail, are intended for a particular type of device but it is to be understood that different forms of contacts may be employed with devices of different types which may be housed within the improved housing.

The upper contact comprises a single length of heavy wire which is bent to provide a pair of spaced apart, coiled portions l8, said portions I8 being coiled in opposite directions and being connected by an upwardly extended loop portion 20. The opposite end portions of the length of wire which provides the upper contact l8 are extended outwardly from the respective coiled portions l8 and are bent as shown in Fig. 1; that is to say, the end portion extended from each coiled portion is bent downwardly to provide a keeper portion 2| and then upwardly and outwardly at an inclination to provide a camming portion 22. From the upper end of the camming portion 22 of each coiled portion the wire is bent rearwardly and outwardly as indicated at 23 and 24. The upwardly extended loop portion is arranged in contact with a plate 25 which is set in the inner face of the rear wall of the housing, and a bolt 26 passes through the loop portion 20, through an opening formed through the plate 25 and through the opening 5 which leads to the opening 3 in which the terminal I3 is located. The bolt 26 at its outer end is screwed into a tapped opening formed in the base portion of the element H, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and at its opposite end said bolt is provided with a head portion adjacent to which a washer 21 is arranged. Interposed between the washer 21 and a portion of the contact I8 is a relatively narrow plate 28, said plate having a vertically disposed portion provided with opposed side flanges which embrace the looped portion of the contact l8 as shown in Fig. 3. The plate 28 is provided with an opening through which the bolt 26 passes.

The lower contact l3 comprises a single length of relatively heavy wire which, as in the case of the upper contact 18, is bent to provide a pair of spaced apart, coiled portions l9, said portions l9 being coiled in opposite directions and being connected by a downwardly extended loop portion 30. The opposite ends of the length of wire which provides the lower contact l9 are extended downwardly from the coiled portions l9 as shown at 3|, and said downwardly extended" portions are provided at their lower ends with outwardly extended portions 3|. The lower contact I9 is arranged in contact with a plate 32 which is set in the inner face of the rear wall of thehousing, and a bolt 33 is extended through the looped portion of the lower contact, through an opening formed through the plate 32, and through the opening 6 in the rear wall of the housing. The bolt 33 at its outer end is screwed into a tapped opening formed in the base portion of the element ll of the lower terminal l4, and a head portion is provided at the opposite end of said bolt, adjacent to which a washer 34 is arranged. Interposed between the washer 34 and the looped portion of the lower contact is a plate 35 which is provided with opposed side flanges, said plate being arranged to embrace said looped portion of said lower contact and having an opening through which the bolt 33 passes.

The elongated sleeves l5 of the upper and lower terminals l3 and I4 have each associated therewith a pair of screws or other suitable fastening elements 36. The fastening elements 36 of each terminal are disposed at opposite sides of the main bolt of the terminal, and these fastening elements pass through openings formed through the associated plate which is set in the rear wall of the housing and through openings 31 formed through said rear wall of said housing, and are screwed into tapped openings formed in the base portion of the associated elongated sleeve l5. By turning the fastening elements 36 in the proper direction, the elongated sleeves I 5 may be drawn toward the rear wall of the housing relative to the U-shaped elements l1, thus causing the conductor sections C and C to be securely clamped between the adjacently disposed faces of the U-shaped elements and the intermediate portions of the outer walls of the elongated sleeves [5, whereby secure mechanical and eflicient electrical connection between the terminals and the conductor sections is obtained.

Supported by the body portion of the improved housing adjacent to the lower portion thereof is a pair of oppositely disposed hinge elements 38. These hinge elements are of substantially hookshaped formation and are suitably secured in place so as to cooperate with the side walls of the housing in a manner to provide eyes.

The door 2 of the improved structure may be formed of Bakelite or other suitable insulating material and has fixed to it adjacent to its lower end, by means of screws 39 or otherwise, an element 4!] which includes a pair of arms 4| (only one being shown in the drawing) which are extended inwardly into the body portion of the housing. These arms are spaced apart transversely of the door 2, and at their inner ends are provided with hook-shaped portions 42 which hingedly engage the hinge elements 38 so as to hingedly support the door for swinging movement with respect to the body portion of the housing. It is to be noted that the hook-shaped portions 42 of the arms 4| provide for conveniently attaching the door to the body portion of the housing or detaching said door from said body portion.

From the foregoing description it is obvious that the terminals l3 and M which connect the mechanism within the housing to the energy lines are located outside of the interior of the housing wherein said mechanism is disposed. Because of this fact no openings are formed in the wall of the housing leading to the interior thereof for the passage of energy lines into said interior of the housing.

We claim:

1. A housing for an electrical device comprising a body portion formed of insulating material, a contact element within said body portion, said body portion having an opening formed in a wall portion thereof exteriorly of the interior of said body portion, and a terminal disposed in said opening and electrically connected to said contact element.

2. A housing for an electrical device comprising a body portion formed of insulating material, a contact element within said body portion, said body portion having an opening formed in a wall portion thereof entirely exteriorly of the interior of said body portion which opening is open at opposed outer side faces of said body portion, and a terminal disposed in said opening and electrically connected to said contact element.

3. A housing for an electrical device comprising a body portion formed of insulating material, a contact element within said body portion, said body portion having an opening formed in a wall portion thereof entirely exteriorly of the interior of said body portion, a terminal disposed in said opening, and means for mechanically and electrically connecting said terminal and contact element, said means comprising a fastening element which engages said terminal and said contact element and is extended through an aperture formed through a wall portion of said body portion that separates said opening from the interior of saidbody portion.

4. A housing for an electrical device comprising a body portion formed of insulating material, upper and lower contact elements within said body portion, said body portion having openings formed in a wall portion thereof exteriorly of the interior of said body portion which openings are open at opposed outer side faces of said body portion, terminals disposed in said openings, means for mechanically and electrically connecting said terminals and said contact elements, said body portion being provided with another opening intermediate of the openings in which the terminals are disposed which likewise is open at opposed outer side faces of said body portion and is located exteriorly of the interior of said body portion, a hanger for supporting the housing, and fastening means for securing said hanger to said body portion which extends into the last-mentioned opening.

5. A housing for an electrical device comprising a body portion formed of insulating material, upper and lower contact elements within said body portion, said body portion having openings formed in a wall portion thereof exteriorly of the interior of said body portion which openings are open at opposed outer side faces of said body portion, terminals disposed in said openings, means for mechanically and electrically connecting said terminals and said contact elements, saidbody portion being provided with another opening intermediate of the openings in which the terminals are disposed which likewise is open at opposed outer side faces of said body portion and is located exteriorly of the interior of said body portion, a hanger for supporting the housing, and fastening means for securing said hanger to said body portion which extends into the last-mentioned opening transversely through an aperture leading to said last-mentioned opening.

6. A housing for an electrical device comprising a body portion formed of insulating material, upper and lower contact elements within said body portion, said body portion having openings formed in a wall portion thereof exteriorly of the interior of said body portion which openings are open at opposed outer side faces of said body portion, terminals disposed in said openings, means for mechanically and electrically connecting said terminals and said contact elements, said body portion being provided with another opening intermediate of the openings in which the terminals are disposed which likewise is open at opposed outer side faces of said body portion and is located exteriorly of the interior of said body portion, a hanger for supporting the housing, and fastening means for securing said hanger to said body portion which extends into the last-mentioned opening transversely through an aperture leading to. said last-mentioned opening, said means for connecting said terminals to said contact elements comprising fastening elements which engage said terminals and said contact elements and extend through apertures formed through wall portions that separate the terminal-receiving openings from the interior of said body portion. 7

7. A housing for an electrical device comprising a body portion formed of insulating material, a contact element within said body portion, said body portion having an opening formed in a wall portion thereof exteriorly of the interior of said body portion, a terminal disposed in said opening which includes a sleeve having an intermediate cutout portion, a clamping element disposed in said intermediate cutout portion, means for moving said sleeve relative to said clamping element so as to cause opposed faces of said sleeve and said clamping element to clampingly engage a conductor extended therebetween, and means for securing said terminal to said contact element, said means comprising a fastening element which engages said clamping element and said contact element and extends through an aperture formed through a wall portion that separates the terminal-receiving opening from the interior of said body portion. 4

8. A housing for an electrical device comprising a body portion formed of insulating material, a contact element within said body portion, said body portion having an opening formed in a wall portion thereof exteriorly of the interior of said body portion, a terminal disposed in said opening which includes a sleeve having an intermediate cutout portion, a clamping element disposed in said intermediate cutout portion, means comprising screws for moving said sleeve relative to said clamping element so as to cause opposed faces of said sleeve and said clamping element to clampingly engage a conductor extended therebetween, and means for securing said terminal to said contact element, said means comprising a fastening element which engages said clamping element and said contact element and extends through an aperture formed through a wall portion that separates the terminal-receiving opening from the interior of said body portion.

9. A housing for an electrical device comprising a body portion formed of insulating material, a contact element within said body portion, said body portion having an opening formed in a wall portion thereof exteriorly of the interior of said body portion, a terminal disposed in said opening which includes a sleeve having an intermediate cutout portion, a substantially U-shaped clamping elementdisposed in said intermediate cutout portion, means comprising screws for moving said sleeve relative to said clamping element so as to cause opposed faces of said sleeve and said clamping element to clampingly engage a conductor extended therebetween, and means for securing said terminal to said contact element, said means comprising a fastening element which engages said clamping element and said contact element and extends through an aperture formed through a wall portion that separates the tenninal-remeiving opening from the interior of said body portion.

10. A housing for an electrical device comprising a body formed of insulating material and including wall portions, said body having a space within it for the housing of contact elements, said body having an elongated opening in a wall portion thereof exteriorly of the interior contact space and extended in a direction other than that of the thickness of said wall portion, a hanger for supporting said body, and fastening means for securing said hanger to said body which extends through an aperture leading to said opening.

FRANCIS J. McCLUSKEY. GEORGE W. GOLDNER. 

